Newsbriefs

A fire crew of about a dozen responded from Mt. Tolman Fire Center to a grass blaze at the northwest corner of the town of Nespelem late Monday afternoon.

An official said that the cause of the fire is being investigated.

Firefighters got a line around the fire and three tanker loads of retardants were dropped on the blaze. The fire eventually burned all the way to the water tank, but was under control by late evening. Some residents were told to be prepared to vacate their houses as a precaution.

A local resident reported that after the fire line was developed the retardant drops extinguished the blaze. About 50 acres were burned.

Fueling the budget

Electric City will receive $14,201 for each of the next three years as its part of Grant County’s fuel tax distribution. The council voted to have Mayor Jerry Sands sign the agreement with Grant County.

Storm took out old park trees

Barry Peacock, Coulee Dam’s head of maintenance, told the town council last week that the town would likely lose both large trees at Mason City Park. One large tree was blown over and Peacock said it affected the stability of the other. He said the trees were at least 60 years old.

Union agreements up and down

The Town of Coulee Dam concluded labor negotiations with the police union. Three police department employees, Sgt. Larry Hall and two officers, received $1-an-hour increases as a result of negotiations. The council approved the agreement in July. The town’s efforts to settle the public works labor agreement fell on hard times when Mayor Quincy Snow broke a 2-2 council tie and voted not to accept the agreement.

Holding off

on new clerk

Coulee Dam town clerk Carol Visker told the council that the town is going to delay filling the records specialist position due to budget considerations. The town had considered hiring a person to satisfy a rash of requests for public documents.

Lasers start earlier

The laser light show at Grand Coulee Dam starts at 9:30 p.m ., beginning tonight. It was at 10 p.m. during July.

Pay up a little

Port District 7 commissioners voted Thursday to pay themselves $70 a meeting, up from $50 a meeting. The same issue came before the board six years ago when the three commissioners passed on it. At the same meeting last Thursday, the commissioners extended airport Manager Bob Babler’s contract for another year.

PUD commissioner

will resign

Citing ongoing health concerns, Grant PUD Commissioner Randy Allred gave notice of his resignation in a statement given to the board last week. Allred’s resignation is effective Nov. 1. His current term expires Dec. 31, 2014.

“I regret not being able to fulfill my term and would like to thank all those who supported me in my time at Grant PUD,” said Allred, of Royal City, who served as commissioner of the southwestern portion of Grant County known as District 3 since 2003.